MEF's review of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/1/05 at 12:33pm

Wow! You must all see this hilarious show, which is the funniest offering to make it to Broadway in years. This review is based on the first preview; I'm sure that cuts will be made, but the show, as it stands now, is pretty near flawless. It also runs about three hours, but there is a laugh in every line.

John Lithgow is dynamite. This is his strongest performance on stage to date, and his singing voice has much improved since "Sweet Smell". He was able to hold his own next to Norbert.

Norbert Leo Butz is smashing as the younger, cruder con artist, flaunting his talents as a skilled physical comedian and giving Steve Martin a run for his money in the role he created.

As Christine Colgate, the American Soap Queen, Sherie Rene Scott is given one of the best female comedic theatrical performances I have seen in years. She will remind you of all of the comediennes of the 30s and 40s, like Carole Lombard and Ginger Rogers.

Joanna Gleason and Greg Jbara are both wonderful, and Sara Gettelfinger, whose role is very small, is brilliant.

The book and score are amazing. Standout tracks: "Great Big Stuff", "Oklahoma?", "Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True", "Love is My Legs" (so ****ing funny!), and "Love Sneaks In", a surprisingly moving number hidden in the middle of the second act.

This is my love letter to what is, by far, the best time I've had on Broadway in years. Buy your tickets now!

4 stars